2026 Capitola Plein Air
- Deadline
- 4 days left
- Entry fee
- $50
- Award
- $1,000
- Location
- California
- Exhibition window
- Nov 8, 2026 → Nov 8, 2026
- Applicants notified
- Aug 2, 2026
- Size cap
- ≤ 10" max dimension
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About
Submit 2-3 images of recent plein air work, artist bio, and entry fee to compete in this juried plein air painting event in Capitola.
Overview
The City of Capitola invites artists to participate in the 11th annual Capitola Plein Air event, a juried plein air competition, exhibition, and sale celebrating the natural beauty and character of Capitola, California. Artists will paint en plein air throughout Capitola during the week of November 2-7, 2026.
Key dates
- Application Deadline: July 17, 2026
- Acceptance Notification: On or around August 2, 2026
- Painting Days: November 2–7, 2026
- Artist Welcome: November 2, 2026
- Artist Reception: November 4, 2026
- Quick Paint: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Exhibition, Competition, & Sales Event: Sunday, November 8, 2026
Eligibility
Open to artists aged 18 and older working in plein air painting media. All work submitted for jurying must be original, completed within the past two years, and representative of the artist's plein air style. Out-of-town artists must secure their own lodging.
Application
Submit 2-3 images of recent plein air work, an artist bio (250 words or fewer), and a $50 non-refundable application fee via 2026capitolapleinair.artcall.org. Enter titles, dimensions, and creation date for each image in the submission form.
Participation requirements
Selected artists must provide all painting surfaces and have them stamped, including a required 8x10 Quick Paint canvas. Artists are required to participate in all Capitola Plein Air activities and may submit up to three competition entries for judging at the Exhibition. Additional works completed during the event and stamped works from prior Capitola Plein Air events may be submitted for exhibition and sale after judging. All artwork must be created en plein air during the event week within city limits of Capitola.
Quick Paint event
- People's Choice: Ribbon, $200 Palace Arts Gift Certificate
Exhibition awards
- 1st Place: Ribbon, $1,000 cash prize and prominent promotional features
- 2nd Place: Ribbon, $300 Palace Arts Gift Certificate
- 3rd Place: Ribbon, $200 Palace Arts Gift Certificate
- Honorable Mentions (up to 3): Ribbon, $100 Palace Arts Gift Certificate each
- Artists' Choice Award: Ribbon, $200 Palace Arts Gift Certificate
- People's Choice Award: Ribbon, $200 Palace Arts Gift Certificate
Contact
Jaquelyn Johnson, jjohnson@cityofcapitola.gov, (831) 475-7300 x 407
- Award
- 1st Place: $1,000 cash prize; 2nd Place: $300 Palace Arts Gift Certificate; 3rd Place: $200 Palace Arts Gift Certificate; Honorable Mentions (up to 3): $100 Palace Arts Gift Certificate each; Artists' Choice Award: $200 Palace Arts Gift Certificate; People's Choice Award: $200 Palace Arts Gift Certificate; Quick Paint People's Choice: $200 Palace Arts Gift Certificate
- Entries per artist
- Up to 3
- Sales commission
- Organizer retains 30% on sales
- Eligibility
- International
- Audience
- Open to artists aged 18 and older
- Size & format
- Up to 10″ on the longest side
- Contact
- jjohnson@cityofcapitola.gov
Aggregated automatically — verify details at the organizer's site.